It was a given in Tom Barry’s family that, having done well in math and science in high school, he would pursue a degree in a related field as a student at Yale. But during his junior year, the Ohio native jumped at the chance to participate in an exchange program in Chile, despite his parents’ objections. The experience interning at a Santiago company, practicing his Spanish, and interacting with people from another culture was “like an awakening,” says Barry, inspiring him to choose Latin American studies as his major. “That was a turning point in my life. I realized this was something I was passionate about and that, up until then, I had been influenced by other people’s expectations.” This insight led to a decades-long interest in global business for Barry, president and CEO of the private equity firm Zephyr Management. This passion is also what has motivated him and his wife Patricia to make an ongoing investment in HBS’s global efforts through their support of the HBS Fund, the School’s research outposts, and an endowed fellowship for international students.

The Value of Being Different
“I became engaged in multicultural issues and matters of economic development,” recalls Barry of his post-graduation years. He wanted to understand why people in some regions do well economically and improve their standard of living while others do not, and was also interested in exploring how he could have a positive impact in this realm. Barry went to work for Corning Glass Works’ international division, and while many new recruits chose sites in Europe, he picked Brazil. “What I’ve learned in life is that you don’t have to be the best at anything, you just have to be different,” he observes. “That has guided me through my entire career.”

During a subsequent stint at Corning in Japan, Barry came to another realization—that he needed to enhance his business skills— prompting him to apply to HBS. After earning his MBA, he put his financial acumen to work in fund management at T. Rowe Price and then, in 1983, took on the role of chief executive of the Rockefeller family’s global investment company.

Intent on narrowing his international focus and extending his impact, Barry founded Zephyr Management in 1994. The firm invests in small and medium- sized businesses in developing countries to help create jobs, enhance workers’ skills, and encourage local wealth development, all while providing a good return for investors. “I feel so lucky that I’ve been able to do something I have a passion for where I also could earn a living and do some good in the world,” says Barry, who hopes his support of global understanding at HBS will enable today’s students do the same.

Supporting People and Programs
Barry notes that when he was at the School, there were few students from abroad and only a handful of globally oriented cases discussed, whereas now the numbers for both have risen dramatically. To help bring more diverse voices into the classroom, he established the Thomas C. Barry Fellowship 20 years ago, influenced by the late Dean John MacArthur’s push to create fellowships for international students. In honor of his 50th Reunion, he and his wife have made additional gifts to the fellowship and to the HBS Fund, building on years of consistent support of the School that began not long after Barry graduated. At HBS, he says, “We need to attract people from around the world who have real experience and a desire to have an impact.” Happy with the direction the School is going, he adds, “Regardless of what career path you choose, you have to understand how business is done in other countries. It’s essential to training leaders for the next generation.”

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